Crutch



E. C. BEECROFT.

- cm'ncn.

APPLICATION FIL'ED MAR. 10, 1919.

Patented Dec. 27 1921 8 mnMo a UNITED STATES EDGAR C. .BEECBOFT, 0F PELHAM MANOR, NEW YORK.

CRUTGH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 27, 1921.

Application filed March 10, 1919. Serial No. 281,699.

To all whom it may comer-n:

Be it known that I, EDGAR C. Bnnonorr, a citizen of the United States, residin in Pelham Manor, county of Westchester, tatc of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Crutches, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to crutches and more particularly to a cushion for the upper end ofa crutch to serve as a comfortable rest for the armof the user. One of the objects of the invention is to provide improved means whereby the cushion may be easily and securely fastened to an ordinary crutch without necessitating any changes in the structure of the parts of the crutch associ-- ated therewith. Further objects, features and advanta es of the invention will appear more fully Erom the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification and illustrating one embodiment of the invention.

In the drawing, Figure 1 is a side elevation showing my invention applied to the upper end of a crutch. Fig. 2 is a central vertical longitudinal sectional view of the same form of invention applied to the upper end of a crutch, the crutch being shown in side elevation. Fi 3 is a cross-section taken on line 33 of Ti 2.

Referring to the drawing the numeral 1 represents the arm rest at the upper end of a crutch, this rest being of usual shape and construction and being secured to the u per end of the upright members 2 and 3 o the crutch.

The cushion shown has an elongated inflatable body 4., provided at one end with a hollow neck 5, to the outer end of which is secured an infiati valve 6. This valve may be of any suita le construction; and as such valves are well-known in the art a detailed descri tion thereof is thought unnecessary. he body portion 4 of the cash ion is curved longitudinally so as to be adapted to rest closely against the upper curved surface of the rest 1 of the crutch, the length thereof being desirably sufficient to permit the same to extend from one end to the other of the said arm rest and to enable the neck 5 to be folded about one end of the said part 1, whereby the valve 6 may be positioned under the said part. Transversely the body 4 is made of suitable curved shape so that the arm of the user may rest comfortably thereon. The cushion may be of suitable air-tight flexible material such as rubber or leather.

In order to hold the cushion firmly in place upon the crutch, I have shown securing means extending substantially throughout the entire length of the crutch. The means shown comprises a lacing 7 connected to the outer edges of flaps 8 and 9, which extend from the body of the cushion, and are adapted to engage opposite sides of the part 1 of the crutch. The lacing as shown extends back and forth under the said part 1 substantially from one end of the cushion to the other and at one end passes under the valve 6 to hold the latter firmly against the part 1 of the crutch. The lacing as shown extends on opposite sides of the arts 2 and 3 of the crutch and thereby e ectively prevents longitudinal movement of the cushion. In order to prevent the cushion from slipping over the top of the crutch in a direction at right angles to the length of the cushion, the flaps 8 and 9 which are desirably made of the same material as the body of the cushion and may be into ral therewith are provided with suitable sti ening means. These means as shown comprise two plates 10 and 11 arranged respectively upon the inner faces of the flaps 8 and 9. These plates extend, as shown in. dotted lines in Fig. 1, substantially from one end of the flaps to the other, and as shown in Fig. 3,

are slightly embedded within the material of the flaps. The plates 10 and 11 also tend to revent bucklin of the cushion from the an s toward the middle. Referring to Fig. 3 the eyelets 12 through which the lacing 7 passes, extend through and connect the lates 10 and 11 with the corresponding aps, the said plates serving to re-inforce the flaps and to prevent the e elets from being torn by the lacin throng the material of the flaps. The p ates l0 and 11 are desirabl thin sheets of metal.

It will be seen that the cushion described above may readily be attached to the ordinary form of crutch or detached therefrom. When fastened in position the cushion will remain in proper relation to the upper end of the crutch. While a pneumatic cushion has been shown, many of the features of my invention are applicable to cushions of other types. My invention is susceptible of a v,

riety of modifications, and it is to be understood that I do not limit my invention to the details here shown and described, except as expressed in given claim.

Having described my invention. what I claim as new and desire to secure Letters Patent for is:

1. The combination with an elongated pneumatic cushion having an inflating valve connected at one end thereof, by a connection adapted to be folded about one end of the rest at the upper end of a crutch, of means for detachably securing said cushion to the rest with the valved end of the cushion folded about one end of the rest and the Valve held in place under the rest.

2. The combination with an elongated pneumatic cushion'having an inflating valve connected by a hollow neck to one end there of, of means for detachably securing said cushion to the rest at the upper end of a crutch with the neck folded about one end of the rest and the valve held in place under the rest, said means comprising laps and a lacing therefor.

8. The combination with a cushion ha ring flaps adapted to engage opposite sides of the crutch, of means coacting with said flaps to fasten the.cushion to the upper end of the crutch, said flaps carrying stiticning means to prevent the cushion from being displaced on the crutch transversely to the lQDQtll of the cushion.

4:. The combination with a cushion ha ing flaps adapted to engage opposite sides of the crutch. of means coacting with said flaps to fasten the cushion to the upper end of the crutch. said flaps carnying stillcning plates to prevent the cushion from longilu dinal buckling and from being displaced on the crutch transversely to the length oi the cushion.

In testimony nlierof, I have signed my name to this specification.

EDGAR 0. BE ECRi )F'l. 

